Apple Scented Calm - Chamomile
January has arrived, and in farming we call this time the fertile void. It is a pause, not of inaction, but of spaciousness. A season for letting ideas surface quietly. Planning begins in February, and by March we are planting again, but January asks something different of us.
Many people ask what I do in the winter. The answer is plenty. I do take a walk in the snow each day, but this is also the season of paperwork, dreaming, and gentle visioning. It is a time to imagine what we want to create in the coming season and to release what no longer serves us. We clean out, organize, and refine our processes so that when summer arrives in all its wild abundance, there is supportive structure beneath it. I hope you find some version of this spaciousness in your own work right now.
It feels no coincidence that chamomile is the plant I am leaning into this month. I have often heard chamomile associated with inner peace, and that is exactly what we are cultivating in this season.
The name chamomile comes from the Greek, meaning apple, a reference to the sweet, apple like scent of both the leaves and flowers.
There are two varieties of chamomile commonly grown in gardens. Roman chamomile, Chamaemelum nobile, is a low growing perennial. German chamomile, Matricaria recutita, is an annual that can reach about two feet tall and self seeds generously. We grow both at Meeting House Farm, though Roman chamomile is my personal favorite. It is well behaved, spreads slowly, and when not in bloom creates a soft, apple scented carpet along the edges of our beds.
Medicinally, the two plants are used in very similar ways. Their scents are nearly indistinguishable to all but the most refined palates. I rely on their growth habits rather than aroma to tell them apart. While both belong to the Asteraceae family, they are different species. Roman chamomile tends to be slightly sweeter and blooms less abundantly than the German annual variety. German chamomile contains more azulene, which gives its essential oil that deep blue color.
Chamomile is best known as a gentle and nourishing ally to the nervous system, and it is especially beloved for children. Chamomile does not make you sleepy but rather supports the nervous system so that it can wind down. One of its flavonoids, apigenin, binds to GABA receptors in the brain, which can help reduce anxiety and encourage restful sleep. I most often reach for chamomile as a bitter to support digestion, particularly when digestive discomfort is connected to stress or tension. It pairs beautifully with lemon balm to create a calming tisane that soothes both the digestive tract and the nerves.
Tisane blend
1 part chamomile
3 parts lemon balm
1 part calendula
2 parts milky oats
The longer this tisane steeps, the more pronounced the bitterness of the chamomile and the stronger its digestive support.
An extract can also be used as a digestive bitter or added to warm water to provide soothing nighttime nervous system support.
Chamomile is also wonderfully soothing for the skin. While a small number of people do experience sensitivity, for most a cool chamomile infusion or salve can be deeply calming, especially for irritated or eczema prone skin. Use Chamomile oil to blend a salve.
Beyond its medicinal uses, chamomile is a generous garden companion. It is a valuable pollinator plant, supporting bees and butterflies as they move through the landscape.
It is one of the most popular plants we grow on our herb farm, and possibly the most labor intensive to harvest. I have heard of many creative harvesting tools, from blueberry rakes to homemade contraptions, but I have found that nothing works better than turning my hands into a rake and gently popping the flowers into a basket. This slow, careful harvest is what contributes to the high price per pound of chamomile flowers. Growing your own is a beautiful way to ensure you always have plenty on hand for your home apothecary.